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West Ham 1 Middlesbrough 1: Dimitri Payet wondergoal helps Hammers end Prem losing streak

French playmaker beats four defenders before firing in equaliser as Boro dominate possession at London Stadium

DIMITRI PAYET fired home a scorcher as West Ham ended their four-game losing streak in the league with a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough.

Payet picked the ball up on the left wing in the 57th minute and beat four defenders as he cut inside before finding the back of the net.

Dimitri Payet struck a wonder goal to help West Ham earn a point
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Dimitri Payet struck a wonder goal to help West Ham earn a pointCredit: Reuters
Christhian Stuani put Middlesbrough ahead with a header which had to be cleared by goal line technology
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Christhian Stuani put Middlesbrough ahead with a header which had to be cleared by goal line technologyCredit: Reuters

The Frenchman's goal came just six minutes after Boro took the lead through Christhian Stuani's header - which had to be cleared by goal-line technology after an ambitious block by Mark Noble.

Aitor Karanka's men dominated possession at the London Stadium, but it was West Ham who had the better of the chances.

Despite lining up without a recognised striker, Slaven Bilic's side looked to counter-attack whenever possible but ultimately could not find a winner.

However, things are looking up for the Hammers as they finally earned a point, while Boro will be disappointed their possession failed to lead to more chances on goal.

Slaven Bilic's side had less possession but more shots than their opponents
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Slaven Bilic's side had less possession but more shots than their opponentsCredit: AP:Associated Press
Aitor Karanka will be disappointed his team's dominance on the ball didn't lead to more chances
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Aitor Karanka will be disappointed his team's dominance on the ball didn't lead to more chancesCredit: AP:Associated Press

FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS

  • West Ham’s already injury hit squad was further hit by a fourth minute injury to right back Sam Byram.
  • Home fans sang ‘stand up if you love West Ham’ and stood up - in continued defiance of the strict sitting down policy.
  • West Ham were battling to avoid a fifth successive Premier League defeat. They lost only three at their old Upton Park ground all last season.
  • Similarly, struggling Middlesbrough have failed to win at home all season following promotion as they too battle bad form like The Hammers.
  • Hammers chief Slaven Bilic opted to go without a recognised striker in a daring move. Five-goal winger Michail Antonio taking the place of the flop forwards instead.
Winger Michail Antonio started as a lone striker for the Hammers
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Winger Michail Antonio started as a lone striker for the HammersCredit: PA:Press Association
Fans were delighted when Simone Zaza came on for the ineffective Gokhan Tore
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Fans were delighted when Simone Zaza came on for the ineffective Gokhan ToreCredit: Reuters
  • Boro striker Jordan Rhodes seems to have been around for years. But at 26 was making his Premier League debut.
  • West Ham fans soon got bored of the non-action.  Altercations with stewards over sitting accompanied by chants of ‘We should’ve stayed at The Boleyn’, ‘Stratford’s a s******e, we wanna go home’ and ‘West Ham United, we’re treated like s**t’ rang out around the London Stadium.
  • The biggest cheer since kick off was the announcement that terrible Gokhan Tore had been subbed at half time. With striker Simone Zaza coming on.
  • Cristian Stuani breaks the deadlock with a 51st minute header that has crossed the line before Mark Noble can hook it clear.
  • Six minutes later Dimitri Payet equalises with a solo goal that HAS to be seen to be believed. It has finally brought some life to the new stadium and the team.

THE BIG PICTURE

The current Premier League table
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The current Premier League tableCredit: Premier League

West Ham next five fixtures:

Crystal Palace (A):  15 Oct (Prem)

Sunderland (H): 22 Oct (Prem)

Chelsea (H): 26 Oct (EFL Cup)

Everton (A): 30 Oct (Prem)

Stoke (H): 5 Nov (Prem)

Middlesbrough next five fixtures:

Watford (H): 16 Oct (Prem)

Arsenal (A): 22 Oct (Prem)

Bournemouth (H): 29 Oct (Prem)

Man City (A): 5 Nov (Prem)

Chelsea (H): 20 Nov (Prem)

West Ham fans were delighted with their side's equaliser
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West Ham fans were delighted with their side's equaliserCredit: PA:Press Association
Payet had a good chance to win the game with a late free-kick
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Payet had a good chance to win the game with a late free-kickCredit: Getty Images

SOCIAL SAYS

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

West Ham: Adrian 6, Bryam 6 (Arbeloa 6), Collins 6, Reid 9, Ogbonna 7, Noble 6 (Lanzini 6), Obiang 6, Kouyate 6, Tore 5 (Zaza 6), Antonio 6, Payet 9

Subs not used: Randolph, Feghouli, Fletcher, Fernandes

Goal: Payet 57’

Booked: Obiang, Arbeloa

Middlesbrough: Valdes 5, Barragan 6, Chambers 6, Gibson 6, Friend 7, De Roon 6, Forshaw 6, Stuani 7, Downing 6, Fischer 7 (Ramirez 6), Rhodes 6 (Negredo 5)

Subs not used: Ayala, Zuniga, Clayton, Guzan, Traore

Goal: Stuani 51’

Booked: De Roon, Barragan, Stuani

Star Man: Winston Reid

WHAT THEY SAID

West Ham defender James Collins: "It stops the rot and is a step in the right direction. We needed that point.

"It was a great goal by Dimitri Payet but we can't depend on him. We need to be better defensively and better going forward."

Boro winger Stewart Downing: "The point is very valuable. We lost our last three matches so any point is vital. It was a good goal by Payet but we should have done better. We have to be switched on at all times."


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